TRANS, from Latin (“through”,"across,“beyond”)
Demolishon and new building concept original of an old factory leds to design a reform which its main porpouse its to make the observer know about that concept and the pass of the time.
Located in Machelen, between Antwerp and Brussels, this architectural work its the result from a reform of an old factory on the city centre, which was historically really important for the city development due to the huge amount of citizens who worked at that factory. That building was originally composed for many different little constructions because the purpose of the factory's construction was to respond in all moments with its form by adapting it to the needs, understanding this fact as a building which had to increase and decrease the volum in order of the interior activity, provoking the continued demolishon and new building of spaces.
Knewing this origins, the architects designed a reform which were imposed two main points: the relation with the city and the increase and decrease concept of the factory.
The result was the demolishon of one side of the old factory to construct a new and modern building with the same volum of the demolished one, with a different design to see the evolution of the construction along the time due to the needs, provoking a perfect straight cut that separes the old part from the new one.
In consequence of this evolution, the new vomum had to resolve the new building conditions: had to mantai the relation with the city, had to have a new access and had to bring brightness to the center. With those conditions, the factory was transform in a city cultural center which combines "informal" spaces of culture, with one 24-7 comercial zone and a number of multipurpose rooms, to link the city and the new volum to the old factory.
In order to resolve the other factors, this new volum it is enveloped with a glass skin to bring brightness. Also lodged the new entrance, the one that brings you directly to a large stairs which leds you to the main floor, from where you can access to any space of the center.
The new construction, as well, it is used to resolve the accessibility and allows to comunicate interior spaces allowing to increase those rooms, occupying some space of the new construction, fact related to he increase and decrease previous concept.
About the other original construction, the architects try to reform it, leaving the industrial visual appearence of the building, meanwhile they make new window openings to have a better relation with the city. Those spaces and rooms are thought as multipurpose rooms which can allow cultural and artistic activities.
With all those actions, 51n4e studio wanted to open the old factory to the city and try to give a modern appearence without forgiving the origins of the building and trying to represent the historical facts of the building.
+ Bibliography links
http://hicarquitectura.com/2012/08/51n4e-congress-and-heritage-centre/